As people across the country make plans to kick off Thanksgiving on the night before the holiday, popularly known as Thanksgiving Eve or Drinksgiving, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and Carbon County Police reminds drivers that Buzzed Driving Is Drunk Driving.

Drunken driving has tragically become a defining aspect of Thanksgiving Eve, with some people turning it into a night of drinking and driving.

From 2019 to 2023 (6 p.m. the Wednesday before Thanksgiving through 5:59 a.m. Thanksgiving morning), 149 drunken drivers were involved in fatal traffic crashes on that night. Drivers 21-24 were the age group most likely to be alcohol-impaired in fatal crashes on that same night, followed by drivers ages 25-34 (37%). In 2023 alone, there were 30 drunken drivers involved in fatal traffic crashes on Thanksgiving Eve, with 17 of the drivers being males.

“These tragic events highlight the urgent need for everyone to plan with safety in mind,” said officer Joel Gulla, Lehighton Police Department and Carbon County Coordinator for the North Central Regional DUI Enforcement Program. “When you get on the road, you are pledging to use safe driving practices to keep all road users safe. The night commonly referred to as Drinksgiving is not an exception. Anyone heading out to a bar or party must make a commitment to stay sober for the night if they are driving, or arrange for a sober ride home before they begin to drink alcohol.”

Drivers should be safe on Thanksgiving Eve by planning ahead if they intend to drink. They shouldn’t wait until after drinking to plan how to get somewhere. Impairment clouds a person’s judgment. Drivers should secure a designated sober driver or call a taxi or rideshare for a sober ride home.

If a driver finds they are unable to drive, they should give their keys to a sober driver so that person can get them home safely.

If anyone spots a drunken driver, contact 911.